Clasp.



J. GRIEVE CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED 001210, 1913.

1, 1 28,80 1 Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

WITNESSES v w Ja/rnes 1' NT??? I A'ITORNEY 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES GRIEVE, or WICHITA',

KANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO REBER HOMRIGHOUS,

OF WIGHITA, KANSAS.

CLASP.

.' T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES ('irnmvn," a citizen of-the United States, residing at Wichita, inthe county of Sedgwick and Statelof Kansas, have invented a new and useful gjCla-sp, of which the following isa specifi r cation; I v v --;T he invention relates .to lmprovements n clasps or clips.

Theobject of the present invention is to improve the construction of clasps, or clips and to provide a simple',,pract1cal andefiicient one-piece clasp. designed for the-various uses to which clips and clasps are, em-'- ployed, such as a 'necktie claspfor holder, safety chain holder for watch fobs," paper clip, etc., and presenting aaplurality of en-- gaging portions or "spring icla'mpingjaws to l'the article or articlescngziged'by it,.sai'd engaging portions or jaws-being located at" the outer and inner ends thereof, the,front or outer engaging portions; or jaws exert ing a relatively slight pressu're'on an article or articles inapplying the clasp thereto, and the rear engaging portions or jaws more firmly gripping the articleor articlesin the finaladjustment: of the clasp and alsoserv ing to increase the pressure'of the front 'en-1 gaging portions.

'lVith these and other objects in .\"iew ,the

invention consists in the construction and novel combination of-parts hereinafter fully 4 ance with this invention.

described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing. and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that vari-' ouschanges in the form, proportion, size and minor details "of, construction; within the scope of the claim; may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrif. ficing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :-Figure 1 is aperspectivc view of a clasp, constructed in accord- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the clasp is A illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the clasp is constructed of a single strip or blank of sheet metal, or any other suitable materlal having sufiiclent 8 bent or bowed outwardly. fact that the slits converge toward the outer nwifi fie Letters a y Patented Feb. 16,- 1915. Application filed Qctober 1e, '1'913'.- serial no; 794,471.

'clamping'jaw 2 and a connecting bond 3.

1 The back 1,'which ispreferably oblong, as

shown, constitutes a jaw or member and coacts with the front jaw or member 2 in clamping an article, but the back may be of any other preferred configuration, and in 'pl'actlcethe clasp may be constructed of precious metal .as well as base metal and may .be embossed and engraved or ornamented with emblemsfor any other ornamentation to provide anartistic device. The connecting'bend is'preferably curved, as shown,

and the outer or front jaw or engagii'ig member 2 is' arranged at an acute angle to the luck 1 and its free terminal 4 is preferably curved outwardly to form a flaring en trance to enable an article to be readily introduced betweenthe two clampmg IJHWSUI mcmbe'rs.-' 'To further facilitate .this the back 1 is'cxtcnded at its free end 5 beyond from points adjacent to the bend along the front jaw or member and terminating short of the transverse edge of the free end. 4 of the same, thereby leaving the free end 4 the "full width of the strip and providing side springs 7, which have free inner terminals Owing to the end of the jaw or member 2, the side springs 7 taper inwardly while the front jaw or member 2 tapers outwardly, the parts being connected by an integral terminal lip formed by the said free end 4, The terminals 8, which are preferably tapered, are. curved outwardly, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the inner portions of the sidesprings are arranged at an obtuse angle to the outer portion of the front jaw and at an acute angle to the inner portion of the same. I

The free ends 4 and of the jaw or mem ber of the clasp form front clamping portions and are adapted to exert a relatively light pressure on an article, which preliminary pressure serves as a convenient means for holding the clasp in position on the shirt while adjusting the necktie to the same enabling the necktie to be readily placed within the front portion of the clasp. .The final adjustment of the clasp is effected by slipping the same inwardly on the shirt brmging either the shirt, or both the shirt and the necktie, between the inner clamping portions, formed by the free terminals of the side springs and the inner portion of the back. The inner or rear clamping portions are adapted to firmly grip an article, and at the same time the outward movement of the inner free ends of the side springs tends to force the outer end of the front .jaw inwardly and increase the pressure at the front of the clasp.

The clasp presents smooth surfaces, devoid of any sharp points or edges to the articles gripped, whereby the-clasp may be easily applied in position and in clamping engagement and readily removed therefrom without injuring fabrics or other articles. The solid imperforate back of the clasp forms a strong and durable supporting member to cooperate with the front clamping jaw and the side sprin s.

What is claimed is A clasp consisting of a single oblong strip or blank of resilient metal, bent transversely at an intermediate point to form a back, a

front jaw, and a connecting bend, the front jaw being arranged at an acute angle to the back and having its free end bearing against the inner face of the same and curved out wardly therefrom, said front jaw having converging longitudinal slits extending 1'n at their free ends against the inner face of the said back, the free ends of the side springs and the free-end of the front jaw forming inner and outer clamping portions, and the inner clamping portions, when put under tension, increasing the pressure of the front clamping portion. v

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the vpresence of two witnesses.

. JAMES GRIEVE,

Witnesses:

CHAS. TEs'rAnn,

R. W. HAFEY. 

